The proposal, which won't be finalized until May 2012, was generated by a computer using what NCHSAA spokesperson Rick Strunk said was a "complicated math algorithm designed to minimize travel." It did not consider putting teams from different classifications into the same conference, as many have today.

The proposal brings fairly sweeping changes to the Mecklenburg County conferences. It also brings Union County school Porter Ridge into a CMS league along with A.L. Brown, returning former Butler football coach Mike Newsome to schools he's familiar with. Newsome is now football coach at A.L. Brown, which would become a 4A school and join a Charlotte league along with Concord's J.M. Robinson.

Mecklenburg County Conference 3 (the old MEGA 7): Berry, East Meck, Garinger, Harding, Independence, Rocky River, West Charlotte, West Mecklenburg

Lake Norman, which had played in a CMS conference, the I-MECK, would move into a league with Alexander Central, McDowell, Skyland Roberson, South Caldwell and Watauga.

East Gaston, which had played in the ME-GA 7, would return to 3A status and join a conference of Gaston County schools: Ashbrook, Forestview, Kings Mountain, North Gaston and South Point.

Strunk stressed that this draft is basically the start of the process.

"We've identified a couple places with extreme travel issues and we will offer a staff proposal that schools can respond to," he said. "Some of the (computer-generated) models will stay. I'm sure others won't."

Strunk said schools have until January to respond to the NCHSAA about the computer model and the upcoming staff model. He said the NCHSAA asks schools who wish to change to have a proposal ready to have talked to schools in other leagues about moving ahead of time.

Ultimately, schools will meet at the NCHSAA offices in January and a final proposal will be voted on by the NCHSAA Board of Directors next May.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Washington, D.C. point guard Nate Britt, a 6-1, 165-pound junior, has committed to North Carolina, according to the Fayetteville Observer. He picked the Tar Heels over Arizona, Maryland, Georgetown, Virginia and Villanova. The left-handed guard is ranked No. 15 nationally in his class by ESPN.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Local players named U.S. Army All-Americans
Northwest Cabarrus punter Bradley Pinion and Charlotte Latin kicker Paul Griggs have been named to the U.S. Army All-America team and will play in the January all-star game in San Antonio.
Each player will be presented with game jerseys in ceremonies next week - Pinion at 8:30 p.m. Monday (halftime of a home basketball game); Griggs at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. Mallard Creek's D.J. Humphries also will play in the game.

Maiden High football coach Brian Brown, 46, has resigned. He told the Hickory Daily Record that he wanted to pursue some personal goals. Brown will continue to teach physical education at the school.

Brown replaced his father, Tom, as Blue Devils football coach and coached for four seasons. His record was 28-21.

The school is accepting applications through Jan. 13. The position is not tied to any particular teaching position, assistant principal and athletics director Jeff Price told the Observer. If interested, contact Price at jeff_price@catawbaschools.net